Luggage latch



Aug. l, 1933. 1 DORST ET AL 1,920,189

LUGGAGE LATCH Filed Aug. 27, 1932 d.. AIQUM 4% BY #.55 wx// ATTORNEYQS.

Eatented Aug. l, 1933 isnlss 1,920,189 LUGGAGE LATCH James Dorst andHenry Weitz, Mayville, Wis., assignors to Arthur A. Buerger, Mayville,

lVis.

Application August 27, 1932. Serial No. 630,616l

Claims.

The present invention relates in general toimprovements in the art ofreleasably fastening relatively movable closureY parts together, andrelates more specically to improvements in the construction andoperation of locking latches especially applicable to the closuresections of Iluggage carriers and similar containers.

Generally dened, an object of the invention is to provide improved latchmechanism which is 19 easily manipulable, and which functions toeffectively lock the fastened parts to each other.

Some of the more speciiic objects of the invention are as follows:

To provide a new and useful multiple latch for elongated containers,which insures a positive interlock between parts at various portions ofthe container located at some Vdistance from a conveniently accessiblepoint of control.

To provide an improved latching and locking device for luggage carriersor the like, which positively latches both the end and center por,-v

tions of the pivotally connected carrier sections, and wherein theindividual end latches may be either independently set, orsimultaneously released. Y

To provide improved latch mechanism for connecting relatively flexiblefiat strips disposed flat- Wise adjacent to each other, which willeiiectively resist separation of the elements by bending or prying withan implement. y

To provide a multiple point latch for fastening together a pair ofsuperimposed strips so as 'toV resist abuses of the kind to which suchcontainers are ordinarily subjected, and will assist in maintaining thecarrier in shape.

tener having a wide range of application, which may be manufactured atminimum cost, conveniently operated, and which is highly eicient andserviceable in operation.

To provide an improved automatic catch fas- These and other objects andadvantages willv beapparentY from the following detailed descriptlon. l

A clear conception of one embodiment of the several features of theinvention, and of the construction and mode of operating a multipleluggage carrier latch built in accordance therewith and applied to aGladstone suit case, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanyingand 'forming a part of this specification in which like referencecharacters `designate the same or similar parts in the various Views:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a partially opened leather suit case, showing afull top view of the improved latch in released position;

Fig,r 2 is a view looking into a'fragment of the 70 lock and handlecarrying section of the suit case, disclosing an elevation of a portionof the iinproved latch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section throughv the portion of the latchmechanism shown in Fig. 2; 75

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section Ythrough the central lockportiony of theI latch mechanism; l

Fig; 5 is a bottom view of the upper lock carrying part ofthe centrallock portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the individualend latches, showing the same in released position; f v

Fig. 7 is a similarly enlarged longitudinal sec- 85 tion through theindividuallatch, showing the same in latching position and the sectionthrough the inner casing being taken along the line '7-7 of Fig. 8; andf Fig. 8 is a longitudinal horizontal section 90 through the individuallatch taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. '7, looking upwardly toward themechanism while in latching position.V

It should be noted, that while the invention is shown and describedherein as being specically applied to a leather suit case of theGladstone type, the various features are capable. of more generalapplication to containers and closures of various kinds. A

Referring to the drawing, the suit case is com- .100 posed or a pair ofcomplementary hingedly connected sections 10, 11 having cooperable metalframe strips l2, 13 respectively, adapted to be inserted or disposed onewithin the other when the case is closed. The section 10 which carries105 the outer strip 12, may also be provided with a carrying handle 14attached to the medial upper portion of the strip 12, and the interiorof the suit case may have a swinging division partition l5V disposedtherein. Y 110 The improved lock and latch mechanism Vis associateddirectly with the upper cooperating medial portions of the frarnestrips12, 13, and comprises'a central combined Alock and latch elements16, and two end latch elementsl'l, 18 of similar construction disposedequi-distant from the opposite 'ends of the central element 16, near theends of the upperportions of the strips l2, 13. The lower or inner strip13 has` a rigid later ally extending central oppositely notched tongue19 cooperable with the central elementA 16, and is also provided vwith apair of rigid laterally ex-v tending singly notched tongues 20, 21cooperable respectively with the elements 17, 18, to latch and lock thestrips 12, 13 together when the suit case is closed.

The central combined lock and latch element 16 is illustrated in detailin Figs. 4 and 5, and consists of a lock housing 22 of artistic designand an inner complementary easing 23 rigidly attached to the frame strip12 and to the housing 22 by screws 24 accessible only from within thesuit case; a plunger 25 of rectangular crosssection slidable within thehousing 22 and having anV inner widened head' portion 26 movable'through an Vopening in the frame strip 12 into the Vinterior of thecasing 23; a tumblerv'loclr 27 l mounted centrally within the plunger 25and .inostpositiom a pair of slides 3G snugly fitting and movablelongitudinally within the casing 23 inv opposite directions; a pairvofcam levers 3l Y pivotally attached to the housing 22 by normallyConcealed pivot pins 32 and having swinging portions interposed 'betweenthe plunger 25 VVand the slides and one or more tension springs 33connecting the slides 30 and coacting through the cam levers 31 toconstantly urge the into vits uppermost position.

The tumbler lock 27 is coniined within the cenoral bore of the plunger25, by means of a retainer stripi3i rigidly attached tothe lower portionof the plunger head 26, and the head 26 serves as a stop for limitingthe upwardmovement of the plunger 25 relative to the housing 22. Theupper side walls of the housing 22 are preferably cut away as shown inFigs. 2 and 4 Vin order to permit depression of the plunger 25 byapplication of a linger or thumb of the op',l erator. The inner adjacentends of the. cam

levers 31 coact directly with the lock retainer strip 34:, and the outerportions of these levers Vdirectly engage the end walls of the slides 30which are constantly forced in contact with the levers 31`by the springs33. The slides 30 snugly but slidably iit the casing 23 and have sidewalls 35 adapted to engage the opposite notches 36 'of the centralAtongue 19, this tongue being vtapered so that it may be forced betweenthe ,in to the tongue notches 3S and thus positively `lock the stripsY12, 13 againstV separation until the slides 30 are again spread apart bythe application of downward pressure against the plunger 25. 't

The two individual latch elements 17, Y*18.are of like constructionsothatia detailed description of one will sufce for the other. Frfomthedisclosure in Figs. 6,'7 and 3, it will be apparent that the latchelement 17 comprises a housing 15; and a horir `t 1 to receive the endoi a side wall 5G of the slide plunger 25 37 of design corresponding tothat of the lock housing 22, and an inner complementary casing '3.8.rigidly attached to the frame strip 12 and to the housing 37 by screws39 accessible only from within the suit case; push button L10 of squareeross--section slidable within the housing 37 and having an integralcentral pointed rod 41 projectable through a hole in the strip 12 andinto the casing 33; a coil spring Ll2 embracing the rod lil and coactingwith the button Aand with the traine strip 12 to constantly urge thebutton toward its uppermost release position; a slide snugly iitting butmovable longitudinally within the casing 33; a pair of compressionsprings -44 which tend to constantly urge the slide 43 within the casing33 toward the central element Y ntal compression rod 4.5 having one endabutting against an end wall of the slide and having its opposite end inContact with the adjacent end wall of the corresponding slide 30 withinthe central casing 23.

The button Il() has lateral lower projections e5 which form for limitingthe upward movement of button, and the pointed rod 41 has a lateralnotch 4'? near the point thereof, which is adapted to receive a medialedge of the upper wall i3 of the slide i3 when the notch 47 is pusheddownwardly into alinernent with said wail 4S, illustrated in Fig. 7.-The'point of the rod /llis also adapted to enter a central hole V in thecorresponding side tongue 20, and this has Va lateral notch. e9 which isformed when the rod 41 penetrates the hole in the n tongue The slidealso has an integral stop lng 51 cooperacle'with an end of the casing 3S`tofliniit the movement of the slide by the springs 44, the end portionsof the horizontal compression. rod ll5 through end openings in thecasings 23, 38 thus retaining these rods in position. The several latchcasings 23, 38 are also provided with front slots 52, 53 re spectively,formed for reception of the latches 19,

20, 2l as cleariyin-dicated in Fig. 2, and the frame -in Fig; 1, thelock tumbler 23 is in release position as indicated in Fig. 5, and theplungers 3 and 6,being thus retained by the springsA 33,

l 42 respectively. As the sections lil, ll are swung toward each otherduring closing vquickly become effective to snap the slides toward eachother and to loch the tongue 19 Within the v casing 23. The suit casesections 10, 1l are thusI locked centrally, and during such closing, theend .tongues 2G, 2l also enter the end casings 33 through the open"` gs53 and coast with the side walls 50 of the slides toinove these slidesaway from the central element 15 until the tongue notches i9 broughtinto registry with the edges of the walls 5i), whereupon the springs/lfl quickly become effective to snap the slides 43 25, nl0 are inuppermost position as in Figs. 2,.,

and the frame strips 12, separation, itis only necessary to lock theplungtoward each other and thus likewise lock the tongues 20, r2lwithinv their respective casings 38. -The suit case sections i0, l1 maytherefore be efiectively and automatically latched together againstdirect lateral separation, both at the center and at the ends, by merelyswinging the case vsections together.

If it becomes desirable to further protect the frame strips 12, :13against vertical spreading,

`after such autoo'laticv initial closure and latching has beene-llected,the buttons 40 may be individually pressed from the positioirshown inFig. 6 to that oifFig. 7. Upon application or" downward pressure to abutton 40, the corresponding'spring Ll2 is compressed and the point ofthe rod lil passes through the opening in the top of the adjacent slide43 and forces this slide against the action of the springs 44,1away fromthe'central 'element 15 until the rod notch 47 is brought into registrywith the upper slide wallv 43, whereupon the springs i4 quickly becomeeiective to snap the edge of .the wall a8 into ythe notch .47. Thebutton 40, rod 41, casing 38 and slide 43 then cooperate to ellectivelyresist possible spreading of the tongues 20, 2l away from the outerframe strip 12, and this additional latching action is obtained withoutreleasing the central latching aiorded by the Vdoubly notched tongue 19.

When it becomes desirable to open the suit case, after the same has beenclosed as above described, it is only necessary to press down upon thecentral plunger 25, and it is unnecessary to .separately actuate thebuttons 40. As the plunger moves downwardly, the lock retainer strip 34causes the cam levers 31 to swing outwardly and to move the slides awayfrom each other thus stretching the springs 33. This motion of theslides 3i) simultaneously disengages `the side walls from the tonguenotches 36, and moves the horizontal rods longitudinally to therebyshift the slides 43-against the pressure imposed thereon by the springs44. This shifting of the slides 43 causes the side walls 50 to disengagethe tongue notches 49 and also releases the slide top walls 48 from thebutton rod notches 47,'

thereby causing the rods il to snap out of the central holes or" thetongues 20, 2l due to the action of the springs 42. The suit casesections 1G, 11 are thus completely released and may be pulled freelyapart while the plunger 25 is pressed downwardly.

In order to positively lock the sections 10, 11 13 against opening or er25 against movement. This may be accom-v plished by actuating the-lock`27 with the aid of a key, to swing the lool; tumber 23 into engagementwith the groove 29 of the housing 22. When the tumbler 28 has been thuspositioned, the plunger 25 cannot be shifted, and the slides 30, 43therefore cannot be shifted to release the tongues This situation existswhetheror notY the push button rods 4l are in locking position, so thatrthe lock 27 in fact positively prevents release of the sections 1Q, 11without utilizing the key to remove the tumbler 28 from the :groove Fromthe foregoing description, it will be apparent that the improved lockand latch mechanism functions to eiiectively fasten the frame strips 12,13 together so as toprevent both horizontal and vertical separationthereof. The side walls of the slides 30,43 cooperating `with the tonguenotches 36, 49, positively prevent hori- Izontal separation, whereasvertical separation or spreading is likewise positively prevented by the.top walls of the slides engaging the rod notches l? and by the coactionof the casings 2 38 .with the upper and lower surfaces of the tongues19, 20, 21 formed integral with the frame 13, atk the openings or slots52, 53. The central element 16 affords a conveniently manipulablecontrol for effecting automatic latching and release `of the sections,andpositive 'locking thereof, k

while the push buttons 40 may be set without interfering with thecentral latch. llhe housings 22, 37 and the casings 23, 38 are ofrigid'construction and are firmly attached tothe frame strip 12 from theinterior of the suit case, and

the slides 3G, 43 are likewise of durable construction 'so as to insuremost eiilcient service. The

entire mechanism is constructed to present a neat and highly iinishedappearance, and has proven far superior to other fastenings for the samegeneral field of use, previously on the market.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the inventiontothe exact details of con` struction and to the precise mode ofoperationr herein shown and described, for various modifications withinthe scope oi the claims may occur to-persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In combination, ay pair of relatively movable' sections havingAcooperating closure portions, Ymeans for simultaneously latching saidportions at remotely spaced points against separation, independentlyoperable means foradditionally latching -said portions at some of saidpoints, and common control means for sinuiltaneously releasing all ofsaid latching means.

2. In combination, a pair of relatively movable sections havingcooperating closure frames, means for simultaneously latching saidframes at several places against separation, independently operablemeans for additionally latching said frames at several of said places,and common control means for simultaneously locking all of said latchingmeans against release.- 3. In combination, a ci relatively movabsections having cooperable closure frames movable one within the other,means for simultaneously latching said frames at a central and two endpoints against separation, independently operable means tor additionallylatching said frames at said end points, and common control meanslocated at said central point for simultaneously releasing all of saidlatching means.

4, In combination, a pair of relatively movable sections havingcooperating closure frames means for simultaneously latching said framescentrally and near the ends thereof against sepasections havingcooperating closure portions,`

Y means for simultaneously.latchingV said portions 'movement '7. Incombination, a pair of relatively movable sections having cooperating`closure frames,` means for Vsimultaneously latohing said framescentrally and near the ends thereof against separation, means forindependently additionallyV latching said irame near the ends thereof,common means for simultaneously,releasing all of said latching means,and means fior simultaneously locking said releasing means and all ofsaid latching means against movement.

8. En combination, a pair of relatively movable sections havingcooperating closure portions, common means for simultaneously latchingsaid portions at remotely spaced points against separation,independently operably means for additionally individually latching saidportions at some of said points, andcommon means for simultaneouslylocking all oi said latching means against movement.

9. 1n combination, a pair oi relatively movable sections havingcooperating closure frames, one of said frames having a plurality ofnotched tongues movable in close proximity to the other of said frames,slides carried by said other frame vand cooperable with the notches or"said tongues to latch said sections together, a plunger carried by oneof said frames and movable toward the other, cam levers shiftable by themovement of said plunger to release slides from en- `gagement with saidtongue notches, and indelable closure frames, one o1c said frames havinga series of notched tonguesV movable in proximity to the other frame,slides movably supported by said other frame engageable with the notchesoi rsaid tongues to lock said frames against separation, notched rodsengageable with said slides to additionally independently lock saidtongues against movement away from said other frame, and common meansfor simultaneously locking all of said slides against displacement.

12. In combination, a pair of relatively swingable frames one of whichhas three integral laterally-spaced notched tongues movable in closeproximity to the other, slides movable longitudinally of and within saidother frame and engageable with the notches of said tongues tosimultaneously lock said frames against separation, latch means movabletransversely oilsaid Aframes and throughA the twokend tongues forindependently and additionally looking said frames againstlseparation atsaid end tongues, and common means for simultaneously releasing thelocks aiforded by said slides and by said latch means.V

13. In combination, a pair of relatively swingable frames one of whichhas three integral latorally-spaced notched tongues movable in closeproximity to the'other, slidesvmovable longitudinally of and within saidother frame and engageable with the notches of said tongues tosimultaneously lock rsaid frames against separation, latch means movabletransversely of said frames and through the' two end tongues forvindependently and additionally locking said frames against separationat said end tongues, and common means for simultaneously locking saidslides and said latch means against release from said tongues.

14. In combination, a pair of relatively swingable frames one of whichhas three integral latorally-spaced notched tongues movable in closeproximity to the other, slides movable longitudinally of and Within saidother frame and engageable with 'the notches of said tongues tosimultaneously lock said frames against separation, latch means movabletransversely of said trames and through the two end tongues forindependently and additionally locking said frames against separation atsaid end tongues, common means for simultaneously releasing the locksafiorded by said slides and by said latch means, and common means forsimultaneously locking said slides and said latch means against releasefrom said tongues.

p 15. In combination, inner and outer relatively movable frames, ahousing secured to said outer frame, a button slidably mounted in saidhousing ior movement toward and away from said inner frame and havingrastop flange within said housing, a rod secured to said button andmovable through said housing into and out of an opening in saidinnerframe, a main coil spring coacting with said button to urge said rodaway from said inner frame openingfa slide movable along said outerframe transversely of said rod and adapted to retain said rod Withinsaid inner frame opening in opposition to said main spring, a secondcoil spring normally urging said .slide` into rod latching position, andmeans for moving said slide longitudinally of said outerframe inopposition to said second spring to release said rod and to permit saidmain spring to move said rod out of said inner frame opening.

JAMES DORST.

HENRY F. WELTZ.

